U.S. retail giant Walmart’s latest blockchain-related patent application describes a “secure” delivery management system, according to a filing published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) July 5.

The newly published application, entitled "Delivery Reservation Apparatus and Method," outlines a blockchain-based management system for delivery lockers that can keep delivered items safe until their purchasers are able to sign for and collect them.

A “blockchain reservation” system is proposed for “some embodiments” of a system to track which lockers are free, and which are occupied:

"Each space on the docking station has a corresponding capacity unit for each location on the docking station. The transactions for the capacity units are tracked in a ledger, with available capacity units indicating an open location on the docking station or contracted out capacity units indicating that either the location has a locker secured thereto or that the location is reserved for a future delivery."

According to the patent, “each docking station can be a node within a blockchain network,” further making frequent references to a “public ledger” which would act as an open record of available and reserved units within the system.